Cops and Courts: Jan. 17, 2013

A 20-year-old man was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in state prison for shooting another man in the leg during a marijuana robbery.

Joseph Mohrmann, formerly of Felton, pleaded no contest in November to second-degree robbery in exchange for a promised sentence of eight to 10 years in prison.

Mohrmann was arrested in Montana in March 2011 after a search by Santa Cruz County sheriff's deputies. The month prior, he and his then-girlfriend arranged to meet two other teens to buy marijuana. Mohrmann grabbed a bag of drugs and then shot one of the teens in the leg as the teen chased him, according to prior testimony.

Judge Paul Burdick stuck with the agreed-upon eight-year sentence Wednesday after noting the number of letters he had received in support of Mohrmann from clergy members, a county education official and others. He also noted that Mohrmann hasn't served prior prison time.

Mohrmann also admitted special allegations of personal use of a firearm and causing great bodily injury. The rest of the charges were dismissed at sentencing.

Someone reported a depressed man with a gun near Bonny Doon Road and Highway 1 about 3 p.m., said Mike McMenamy, public safety superintendent for State Parks.

An armed ranger talked to the man, who appeared in his mid-40s and carried a loaded revolver. They talked for about 40 minutes. The man did not point the gun at anyone but himself, McMenamy said.

A Sheriff's Office negotiator also spoke to the man.

The man gave up the gun just before 5 p.m. No one was injured. He was taken by ambulance to a mental health facility for evaluation.

Santa Cruz police, American Medical Response, and Cal Fire also responded to the call.

SANTA CRUZ

Suspected bike thief caught

A 35-year-old man was arrested Tuesday after an officer saw him trying to remove a Specialized bike from a bike rack in a parking garage.

Someone called police about a man suspiciously riding around the condominium complex at 2030 North Pacific Ave., said Santa Cruz Deputy Police Chief Steve Clark.

An officer arrived and saw Adam Michael Brightwell trying to remove and dismantle a bike that was not his, police said. He had wrenches in his pockets, police said.

Brightwell, who said his last address was the Santa Cruz Homeless Services Center, was arrested on suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property and possession of burglary tools, according to police.

SANTA CRUZ

Man accused of exposing himself

A 32-year-old man was suspected of exposing himself in a Cooper Street courtyard Tuesday afternoon.

A downtown host from the Downtown Management Corp. called 911 about 4:45 p.m. a to report a man with his pants down masturbating, said Santa Cruz Deputy Police Chief Steve Clark.

A few minutes later a few blocks away, police found Dusty Regier and arrested him on suspicion of indecent exposure, police said.

Regier had been arrested earlier Tuesday on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs, police said. He listed his address as the Santa Cruz Homeless Services Center.

SANTA CRUZ

Deputies warn of gift card scam

Santa Cruz County sheriff's deputies are warning shoppers to inspect gift cards before buying them to avoid a recent scam.

Deputy April Skalland said thieves have recently taken to buying gift cards, photocopying the bar codes and slipping the photocopies on top of other gift cards at stores. When a cashier rings them up and adds money to the bar code, the money has gone to the thieves rather than on the card.

Deputies advised gift-card buyers to make sure that the card has not been tampered with before buying it. The card also should be secured in its paper case, Skalland said.